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SHICKSHINNY —The fiscal tug-of-war between members of borough council continued Tuesday night when a proposal to purchase a street sweeper for $8,685 from Medico Industries of Wilkes-Barre came before the body and divided the council. A legal issue now threatens the purchase was suggested by one council member.
Councilwoman Kathleen Llewellyn, who, with councilman Kevin Morris, opposed the purchase, believes the matter is in limbo. “They have to enact an ordinance to legally make the purchase,” Llewellyn opined after the meeting. “And we have a promise from the mayor that she will veto any ordinance.”
Mayor Beverly Moore confirmed she will impose a veto. “Yes, I will veto it,” she said. “Why do we need to purchase a street sweeper at this time of year?”
Llewellyn added if the proposal comes up again, “They’ll need the votes of the usual three councilmen plus either Kevin or me to override a veto and they’re not going to get it.”
Casting votes in favor of the purchase were council members Rosalie Whitebread, Michael Steeber and James Wido. Whitebread and Steeber are veteran members who didn’t seek re-election this year and are scheduled to fulfill their term on the council at the end of December.
After contending the borough’s insurance premium has doubled to over $45,000, Morris opined that’s one reason why the council doesn’t have the operating capital to make purchases. Morris repeated a charge he has stated previously that outgoing members are trying to deplete the borough treasury.
Steeber, however, contended the timing is right to purchase a piece of equipment needed by the street department at what he described as a good price. When a roll call was conducted, Whitebread, Steeber and Wido voted to make the purchase. But when pressed by Morris, solicitor John Pike said an ordinance is needed to incur a capital expense.
Moore said she will veto that ordinance.
Morris also tangled with his colleagues on the matter of Christmas lighting at the intersection of Main and Union streets stating, “I’m for Christmas lights, but we just don’t have the money.” Llewellyn concurred, but Whitebread, Steeber and Wido acted to move ahead with Rick Harmon, codes enforcement officer, volunteering to seek quotations for the installation of electrical service at the intersection. Harmon projected an estimate of $2,000 but there was also comment that either 1st Keystone, Wells Fargo banks or another business could be asked to absorb the cost.
The council also must undertake a search for another secretary-treasurer. Whitebread said Joan Cauley, who was retained at the September meeting, has submitted a letter of resignation effective Oct. 23. Cauley said the secretary-treasurer post was “more work” than she anticipated and didn’t wish to continue in the post.
Cauley was preceded by Amy Evans, who served as secretary-treasurer after Wendy Kremer resigned under pressure in April 2014.
Llewellyn, who interviewed and endorsed Cauley, said she has an application from an individual who has expressed an interest in the job.
On another issue involving Main and Union streets, Brian Phillips, vice president of Shickshinny Forward, submitted a letter to the council in which members of his group are in “non support” of an engineering plan that will adversely affect curbside parking in the business sector.
The letter asked the council to consider another plan. Jerry Sitko, project engineer for Reilly Associates, said alternatives are being pursued to seek a compromise with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials on sight distances and obstructions that come into play with a plan to modernize the business sector with new sidewalks, crosswalks and planting areas.
The council approved two other resolutions: one confirming maintenance and control of borough streets and the other, creating a 2015 hazard mitigation (flood) plan.